Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-09-08

u
my brains would spatter the brush
Immediately, and l knew the threat
was in earnest.
Mat Kingsly. the man | recognized
claimed me as his meat He told the
others to 60 on their projected raid
while he took me to the rendezvous
and saved me up for their return
next morning. Then securing my
arms behind me and hoppling my feet
beneath Kingsley's lean mule, which
they forced me to bestride, three of
the party took their departure, carry
ing with them one of the canteens of
liquor, my guard claiming the other
for his share. He mounted my horse
and making me ride slowly before him,
directed my way through a bride
path in and amongst the heavy, thick
timber. Why he did not kill me at
once | did not know, except that he
may have desired to prolong my tor
ture or to really keep faith with his
fellows. .-l
We rode in silence for an hour or
more At last we came to small
clea,ing-'a niger patch"-in the
center of which was tumble-down
hut. Here Kingsley stopped, dis
mounted. united my feet, motioned
me 20 enter the cabin, and followed
me.
The only occupant of the place was
little, thin, half-starved, yellow wo-
man. She seemed scared to death
when we invaded her poor place, but
on demand furnished us a drink of
water and Kingsley a pone of corn
bread. She offered me one, but he
struck it from her hand, saying:
Let the-Yankee starver
This gave her clew to the whole
situation and | could see that she SYM
pathized with me, but was powerless
to give me aid. Several times she
made excuses and tried to 60 out, but
was ordered with many oaths, to re-
main where she was.
l will not attempt to describe my
feelings, they can easily be imagined.
The thoughts of such an ignoble end
ing to an extended and somewhat
creditable career was what troubled
me most But I knew that nothing
short of miracle could save me-
Kingsley had been frequent, in his
attentions to the canteen of whisky
during our ride, an now he had it at
his mouth every few minutes. With |
every drink his rage increased, and
he poured upon my head all the vile
curses and foul names he could think |
of or invent He kicked and cuffed
me, struck me almost stunning blows
on the head with the butt Of his re-
volver and took devilish pleasure in
plcturing the torments to which /
would be subjected.
From the way he tilted the canteen |
could see thot it would soon be |
empty, and I fully expected that my
life would end with the liquor.
He was mad with rage and drunken.
ness.
He drained the last drop and threw
tae vessel from him, then sat for
time in moody silence, casting glances
of hate at me and playing with his
revolver
At last with terrible oath that he
would finish me now,' he rose and |
placed the pistol within three inches
of my forehead.
He meant to kill me. I could see
it in his eyes. He delayed moment
in pulling the trigger. The black
woman sprang for him and grasped
his arm.
Not here! not herer she cried
piteously.
The man turned upon her. I was
so tied arms and feet | could neither
aid or escape. That woman clung to
him he could not shake her off, nor
could his blows harm her much at
close quarters.
Two shots he fred without effect,
while the woman struggled and
wreathed and wound herself about
him.
To grasp her more easily he must
have loosened his hold on the pistol;
at all events it a ew from his hand and i
fell behind an old box that was stand
ing in corner. His hands both free
seized the poor creature by the throat,
choaked her almost 1nsensible, then /
lifted her and slammed her in help
less mass on the dirty floor. i
There was no hope for me now.
Painting with his exertions he made ,
his way to the box, and bis head .
turned to watch me, GRABBED with his s
hand for the pistol. I
Muttering hot cuurses he fumbled :
around for moment or two, then ,
gave start, quick glance at the '
lark cavity and uttered fearful yell, r
Strengthened up, and l saw the most +
'rightful, terror stricken face my eyes J.
aver look upon. ~
In second a long, thin. black body
ylided across the floor and out of the s.
loor. 1t was huge rattlesnake, and y
is fangs had closed we'll and deadly
n the hand of my would-be assassin. y
The courage and oravado was all 1